Pentagon bars journalists from entering its press office citing re-designation
Revocation of access newest attempt by Trump’s defense department to restrict reporting on military affairs
TL;DR
- Journalists are no longer permitted to enter the Pentagon's press office.
- The press office has been redesignated as a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF).
- This redesignation is due to speechwriters from the Office of the Secretary of War sharing the facility and handling classified material.
- The Trump administration, preferring 'war department' over 'defense department', has been implementing new press restrictions since September.
- These restrictions include demanding journalists pledge not to gather unauthorized information or risk press pass revocation.
- The Pentagon announced a "next generation of the Pentagon press corps" featuring journalists from far-right outlets.
- The New York Times has sued the Pentagon multiple times over these restrictive policies, with a federal judge initially ruling in their favor.
- An interim policy requiring journalists to have an official escort was implemented, and despite a judge ruling it violated his order, it remained in place due to an appeals court stay.